BOOKS
No filter: the inside story of how Instagram transformed business, celebrity and our culture
by Sarah Frier (Cornerstone Digital, £20, hardback)
This is the story behind the meteoric rise of the social media photo app – including interviews with its founders – charting its rise from humble beginnings to ownership by Facebook and a $100bn valuation. But it’s also about the ascendancy of Instagram influencers, who have become a significant business sector in their own right – with contributions from the likes of Anna Wintour – and the app’s impact on popular culture.
The trick: why some people can make money and other people can’t
by William Leith (Bloomsbury Publishing, £20, hardback)
Exploring journalist Leith’s obsession with what makes some people rich and not others, this draws on his career of interviewing the rich and famous – from the real-life Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort to publisher Felix Dennis and financier Nassim Taleb. His conclusion is that there’s no simple formula to becoming mega-wealthy. But, as well as working incredibly hard, you need to be able to shrug off failure.
Green and prosperous land: a blueprint for rescuing the British countryside
by Dieter Helm (William Collins, £9.99, paperback)
This might seem an unlikely tome to spring from the pen of an Oxford economist. In fact, rather than placing the economy and the environment as adversaries, Helm’s central argument is that they must work together to deliver sustainable, eco-friendly economic growth. He offers a 25-year plan which starts from the premise that a prosperous countryside is synonymous with a pleasant countryside, with all that implies in terms of being clean, aesthetically attractive, healthy and not demanding huge public subsidies. The book, says Helm, is a blueprint for how to get there – “Not rocket science, but just applying good economic principles to our natural environment.”
Working in pyjamas: how to thrive while working from home
by Caitlin McAllister (Amazon, £3.99, Kindle edition)
A book for anyone suddenly facing the prospect of WFH for the first time in their life, the author is a freelance writer who’s been doing it for quite a while. McAllister tells you not just how to manage the physical challenges, such as setting up a workspace, but how to cope with the mental challenges, from dealing with isolation to being organised and strategic about your day. Does she actually work in her pyjamas? You’ll have to read it to find out.
RESOURCES
8-hour start-up: From idea to launch in 1 weekend
Fraser Doherty’s crash course in developing a business from scratch in a couple of days has been launched as an audiobook. It takes an online approach to building a business and gives you the lowdown on aspects such as testing your idea, building a website and promoting it through digital marketing. All starting with a blank piece of paper.
Available from www.audible.co.uk
Meaning Business
A new podcast from the Daily Mail’s This is Money brand, the focus is on business as a force for good. Presenter Simon Lambert’s first interviewee is Craig Wilson, Managing Director of F1 powerhouse Williams Advanced Engineering, which got involved in the Ventilator Challenge UK race to build vital equipment in the fight against Covid-19.
bit.ly/3dSu4bB
Luxury Property Network
This ‘virtual private members club’ specialises in luxury property and construction. Founded by Priya Rawal, Construction Associate at CMS UK, it aims to “facilitate the advancement of the luxury property industry through networking, developing strong business collaborations, shared knowledge, experience and contacts”. It will hold online events during lockdown, and gatherings with drinks and food once safe.
www.theluxurypropertynetwork.com
Virtual Island Summit
If that big autumn conference you planned to attend has been called off, why not visit the Virtual Island Summit from 6-11 September? This free online event will host speakers and attendees from more than 100 island communities to discuss a range of development, innovation and sustainability issues. There will be interactive sessions in various formats, and opportunities to interact with speakers and other attendees.
www.virtualislandsummit.com